U.S. patent application number 14/232047 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for rotating wavelength conversion element.
This patent application is currently assigned to BRACO N.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is Oliver Charlier, Peter Gerets, Dirk Maes. Invention is credited to Oliver Charlier, Peter Gerets, Dirk Maes.
Application Number | 20140140038 14/232047 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44586540 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140140038 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gerets; Peter ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
ROTATING WAVELENGTH CONVERSION ELEMENT
Abstract
A method and apparatus is described for producing high
brightness, e.g. multicolor light, whereby a region of a wavelength
conversion element and a light source producing excitation light
are moved relative to each other so that said region is exposed to
the excitation light at different times and in a progressive
movement that scans across a part of the entire surface of the
wavelength conversion element. The wavelength conversion element
can be cooled by air or with a liquid.
Inventors: |
Gerets; Peter; (Roeselare,
BE) ; Charlier; Oliver; (Brussel, BE) ; Maes;
Dirk; (Wevelgem, BE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gerets; Peter
Charlier; Oliver
Maes; Dirk |
Roeselare
Brussel
Wevelgem |
|
BE
BE
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
BRACO N.V.
Kortrijk
BE
|
Family ID: |
44586540 |
Appl. No.: |
14/232047 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
July 13, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/063793 |
371 Date: |
January 10, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/84 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V 13/14 20130101;
G03B 21/16 20130101; F21V 29/56 20150115; F21V 13/08 20130101; G03B
21/208 20130101; G03B 21/204 20130101; F21V 14/08 20130101; F21V
9/45 20180201; F21V 7/26 20180201; H04N 9/3114 20130101; H04N
9/3158 20130101; H04N 9/3144 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/84 |
International
Class: |
F21V 14/08 20060101
F21V014/08; F21V 9/16 20060101 F21V009/16; F21V 29/00 20060101
F21V029/00; F21V 13/08 20060101 F21V013/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 14, 2011 |
GB |
1112048.2 |
Claims
1. An illumination device comprising a light source for generating
an excitation light and a wavelength conversion element, said
wavelength conversion element comprising: a region containing a
wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation
light of said light source and emitting light having wavelengths
different from that of the excitation light; and wherein the
wavelength conversion element and the excitation light source are
moveable relative to each other so that said region is exposed to
the excitation light at different times and in a progressive
relative movement that scans across a two-dimensional surface of
the wavelength conversion element.
2. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a
dichroic element disposed between the wavelength conversion
material and the light source, the dichroic element transmitting
the excitation light and reflecting light emitted by the wavelength
conversion material.
3. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a
reflecting material disposed in the back of the wavelength
conversion material, the reflecting material reflecting unconverted
excitation light and light emitted by the wavelength conversion
material.
4-37. (canceled)
38. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the relative
movement of the wavelength conversion element and the excitation
light source is achieved by combining rotational and/or
translational movements such that a region of the wavelength
conversion element is scanned by light from the excitation light
source.
39. The illumination device of claim 38, wherein two actuators are
used to move said wavelength conversion element; a first actuator
is used to rotate said wavelength conversion element and a second
actuator is used to translate said wavelength conversion element in
a direction with a component parallel to the plane of said
wavelength conversion element.
40. The illumination device of claim 39, wherein the frequency of
the translational movement is smaller than the frequency of
rotational movement resulting in a spiraling pattern.
41. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said wavelength
conversion element comprises a material that photoluminesces to
produce at least one primary colored light when illuminated with
said light from said light source.
42. The illumination device of claim 41, wherein when the material
that photoluminesces is degraded after illumination by said light
from said excitation light source, the excitation beam is moved to
a fresh region, different from the material that photoluminesces
which has been degraded after illumination, comprising a material
which photoluminesce which have not been illuminated
43. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein switching is
possible between the different regions or sectors at regular time
intervals that are much shorter then the lifetime of the wavelength
conversion materials so that the wavelength conversion materials of
different regions or sectors degrade uniformly.
44. The illumination device of claim 1 further comprising a reserve
of unused wavelength conversion material.
45. The illumination device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor
for determining the lifetime of the wavelength conversion
element.
46. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the wavelength
conversion element is immersed in a liquid.
47. The illumination device of claim 46 further comprising a pump
for pumping the liquid to cool the wavelength conversion
element.
48. The illumination device of claim 46 wherein the wavelength
conversion element has fins for rotation by the pumped liquid.
49. The illumination device of claim 48 further comprising gears
for converting the rotation of the wavelength conversion element
into relative motion between the excitation light source and the
wavelength conversion element so that said region is exposed to the
excitation light at different times and in a progressive relative
movement that scans across a two-dimensional surface of the
wavelength conversion element.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an illumination device and
method for providing high brightness multicolor light as well as to
a projection device including the illumination device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For the illumination of digital projection systems, solid
state lighting could be a preferred method. Typically a light
source is combined with an imaging system which yields the actual
image. The brightness of the projection system is mainly depending
on the power and the nature of the light source. Up to now lamps
have been used more or less exclusively. For low brightness
systems, UHP lamps are used, for high brightness systems, Xenon
lamps are used. Lamps are expensive and often do not last long
enough. However conversion to solid state lighting still remains a
challenge.
[0003] LED illumination technology has been used successfully for
low brightness systems. Typically LED illumination replaces the UHP
lamps for low brightness systems up to 1.500 lumens. Laser
illumination technology is currently engaged in development for
replacement of Xenon lamps in the high brightness systems above 10
k lumens.
[0004] In between the brightnesses where LED illumination stops and
Laser illumination starts, there is an opportunity for a
lightsource which is scaleable within that range.
[0005] Diode lasers have been used in several applications and red
and blue diode-lasers are known. Blue lasers have been developed
for application in Blue Ray disk systems and are now marketed in
compact packages, high power output (e.g. Nichia TO9 package) and
low cost. Blue light has a wavelength which is suitable for pumping
electroluminescent phosphors, e.g. the phosphors often used in
LED's for general lighting applications. These phosphors are
commonly available, with the one phosphor being more efficient than
the other. Combining the blue lasers with light emitting phosphors
is called laser-phosphor conversion or phosphor pumping.
[0006] This process is already used in several projection
applications, but only at lower brightness levels.
[0007] A limitation still lies in the heat dissipation of the
phosphors. A phosphor layer emits light rather in a lambertian way,
which makes the light difficult to be captured and collimated.
Hence the blue pump energy is projected on the phosphor in the most
compact way, usually a very small spot, which increases the
efficiency of capturing the light in the downstream optical system,
but also increases the energy density in the phosphor layer. In
this small spot, high energy dissipation will saturate the phosphor
at a certain level, with brightness clipping and phosphor layer
damage as a result.
[0008] In order to avoid this, the spot can be made larger, or the
cooling can be made more efficient. Typically, in these
applications, the phosphor material is mounted on a disk, which is
composed of glass, to allow pumping from the back, or which is
composed out of a metal which requires pumping from the front, but
provides a better basis for transporting the dissipated heath
through the color wheel's metal base. Due to the rotation of the
wheel in free air, the wheel surface itself and the phosphor layer
are cooled by air. Wavelength conversion methods that use
excitation light produced by solid-state light source such as laser
diodes (LDs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs) and wavelength
conversion materials such as phosphors or quantum dots can produce
high brightness light at wavelengths different from the wavelength
of the excitation light. For high power white LED devices, often
conversion from blue to white light is accomplished by phosphor
wavelength conversion. To produce high brightness illumination in a
projection device, red, green and blue solid state light sources,
such as high power LEDs and lasers, offer improved lifetime over
arc lamps. Lasers offer higher brightness then LEDs. When using
lasers to produce high brightness illumination, a red laser is
available in the art, for instance diode bars. A diode laser can
also be used to produce the blue light, but disadvantageously a
high power green diode laser is still way out in the future. Hence
the possibility to convert blue to green light using a blue diode
laser and green phosphors is quite attractive, even if this results
in some conversion losses.
[0009] US20090284148 describes a projector using this principle in
its illumination path. A blue light is generated by using a blue
high power diode laser (for instance a Nichia.TM. diode laser)
which is converted through a green light producing phosphor which
is deposited on a rotating color wheel. The color wheel also takes
care of the color sequencing needed for the single light valve
illumination in the system. However, the output power of the
illumination system is limited due to the power density of the
excitation light projected on the phosphors. The longer the
phosphor is exposed to the high density laser light, the faster the
phosphor will burn-in. Conversion losses result in local heating of
the phosphor, which in turn reduces its efficiency and can cause a
shift in its emission spectrum. Rotation of the color wheel will
distribute the power density over the color wheel area
corresponding with the spot of the excitation laser falling on the
color wheel over the track covered by the spot over the rotating
phosphor surface.
[0010] WO2009017992 discloses a similar illumination device wherein
the high power laser spot is illuminating while a color wheel is
rotationally moving and as a result the phosphors comprised in that
illuminated circular path are repeatedly heated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide an
alternative illumination device and method for providing high
brightness colored or multicolored light. In particular an object
of the invention is to provide an illumination device and method
that suffers less from long term and/or short term degradation of
color point. In particular thermal degradation of materials,
especially wavelength conversion materials can be reduced so that
both long term and/or short term degradation of color point can be
avoided or reduced.
[0012] The present invention provides an illumination device
comprising a light source for generating an excitation light and a
wavelength conversion element, said wavelength conversion element
comprising: a region containing a wavelength conversion material
capable of absorbing the excitation light of said light source and
emitting light having wavelengths different from that of the
excitation light; and wherein the wavelength conversion element and
the excitation light source are moveable relative to each other so
that said region is exposed to the excitation light at different
times and in a progressive relative movement that scans across a
two-dimensional surface of the wavelength conversion element.
[0013] The light of the light source will form a spot on the
wavelength conversion element and the spot moves across the element
in at least two non-collinear directions in the plane of the
wavelength conversion element (e.g. either by combination of two
rotations or rotation and translation).
[0014] This device has the advantage that both long term and/or
short term degradation of color point as well lifetime of the
wavelength conversion material can be improved. In accordance with
an aspect of the present invention, degradation of the properties
of the wavelength conversion material can be postponed by regularly
shifting the position of the region upon which the excitation light
impinges. The technical problem of degradation of the wavelength
conversion element such as phosphor by suitable movements such as a
rotational movement including an orbiting movement according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] The present invention includes within its scope that
different excitation light sources, e.g. different colored light
sources are used with one wavelength conversion element such as one
color wheel, e.g. in a single-chip projector.
[0016] The present invention also includes within its scope to have
separate wavelength conversion elements, e.g. color wheels, each
with an excitation light source to deliver different primary colors
in, for example a three-chip projector.
[0017] The present invention also includes within its scope to have
less different excitation light sources than different wavelength
conversion materials. In this case for example a color such as red
is generated from a green or yellow diode laser using a wavelength
conversion material in addition to green when generating RGB
primary colors.
[0018] In some embodiments the wavelength conversion element is
used in transmission, and a dichroic element can be disposed
between the wavelength conversion material and the light source,
the dichroic element transmitting the excitation light and
reflecting light emitted by the wavelength conversion material.
[0019] In other embodiments, the wavelength conversion element can
be used in reflection, A reflecting material preferably is disposed
in the back of the wavelength conversion material. The reflecting
material preferably will return unconverted excitation light as
well as light emitted by the wavelength conversion material. For
example, the reflecting material can be a polished metal.
[0020] The region containing a wavelength conversion material can
cover at least part of the width or the full width of the
wavelength conversion element, whereby this width is measured in a
direction away from the axis of incidence of the excitation
beam.
[0021] The relative movement of the wavelength conversion element
and the excitation light source is preferably achieved by combining
rotational and/or translational movements such that a region of the
wavelength conversion element is scanned by light from the
excitation light source. For example, two actuators can be used to
generate the relative movement between said wavelength conversion
element and the excitation light beam; a first actuator is used to
rotate said wavelength conversion element relative to the
excitation light beam and a second actuator is used to translate
said wavelength conversion element relative to the excitation light
beam in a direction with a component parallel to the plane of said
wavelength conversion element.
[0022] The frequency of a translational movement is preferably
smaller than the frequency of a rotational movement resulting in a
spiraling pattern. This spiral pattern results in new
photoluminescent material being irradiated by the excitation light
beam on each rotation.
[0023] The wavelength conversion element preferably comprises a
material that photoluminesces to produce at least one primary
colored light when illuminated with said light from said light
source. Different light sources can be used for enabling different
primary colors. For example, the light source can be a solid-state
light source such as a laser diode or a light emitting diode or an
OLED. The power of the solid-state light source can be modulated to
compensate the differential aging of said wavelength conversion
element. Alternatively or additionally the power of the solid-state
light source can be modulated to compensate for short term
fluctuations and keep the light output constant at a desired
level.
[0024] To improve the lifetime of the wavelength conversion
element, it is preferred that when material that photoluminesces is
degraded after illumination by said light from said excitation
light source, the excitation beam is moved to a fresh region,
different from the materials that photoluminesce which are degraded
after illumination, comprising materials which photoluminesce which
have not been illuminated. For example, a reserve of unused
wavelength conversion material can be provided.
[0025] To reduce temperatures of the wavelength conversion
material, a local cooling device can be attached in the vicinity of
the wavelength conversion element. The local cooling device can be
a nozzle which blows cool air.
[0026] The wavelength conversion element can be made in any
suitable shape, e.g. it can comprise discrete sectors of wavelength
conversion material, said sectors either comprising substantially
the same composition or different wavelength conversion
compositions or a substantially optically reflecting or transparent
material for said light source.
[0027] The present invention includes within its scope switching
between the different regions or sectors at regular time intervals
that are much shorter then the lifetime of the wavelength
conversion materials to enable less deterioration of the wavelength
conversion materials of the different regions or sectors.
[0028] To make efficient use of material, the amplitude of a
translational movement is preferably substantially as large as the
width of said region containing said wavelength conversion
material. However, non-uniform or damaged edges of the region are
preferably avoided such that the actual effective area to use is a
bit smaller. Alternatively the amplitude of the translational
movement can be a fraction of half of the width of said region
containing said wavelength conversion material.
[0029] Other optical devices can be placed in the optical path. For
example, a light valve can be provided whose operation is
synchronized with the rotating movement of the wavelength
conversion element such that colors are displayed sequentially. For
example, a light guide or rod integrator, or a fly-eye integrator
can be included in the optical path.
[0030] For ease of manufacture the wavelength conversion element
can be a color wheel.
[0031] A sensor such as an intensity sensor can be used for
determining the end of the lifetime of the wavelength conversion
element. Any of the above can be combined with a closed loop
feedback system to maintain white point and constant light
output.
[0032] The present invention also provides a projecting device
including the illumination device according to any of the
embodiments of the present invention.
[0033] The present invention also provides a method for producing
high brightness, e.g. multicolor light, whereby a region of a
wavelength conversion element and a light source producing
excitation light are moved relative to each other so that said
region is exposed to the excitation light at different times and in
a progressive movement that scans across a part of the entire
surface of the wavelength conversion element.
[0034] An advantage of embodiments of the present invention is a
reduction in the average power density distribution of the
excitation beam such as generated by a solid state light source,
e.g. high density laser light, LED light, OLED light, by moving the
surface of a wavelength conversion material such as a
photoluminescence material such as materials which encompass both
fluorescence and phosphorescence material of which phosphor and
quantum dot are only two examples relative to the laser beam in 2
dimensions.
[0035] The wavelength conversion material can cover at least part
of the width or the full width of the wavelength conversion element
that is perpendicular to the axis of incidence of the excitation
beam. In other embodiments, the wavelength conversion material may
be provided as discrete sectors on the wheel corresponding to the
different primary colors or may be a ring of material around all of
the wheel.
[0036] This orbiting movement of the wavelength conversion material
surface, such as the fluorescent or phosphorescent material of
which phosphor and quantum dot are only two examples, on a rotating
wheel combined with a relative translational movement, will produce
a spot of an excitation beam that can travel over a part or the
total available surface of the wavelength conversion material such
as a fluorescent or phosphorescent material of which phosphor and
quantum dot are only two examples, hence decreasing the burn-in and
increasing the lifetime of the laser-wavelength conversion material
combination. The orbiting over a 2D area can be done by a
translational movement combined with a rotational movement
performed at the same time, e.g. by rotating a color wheel assembly
while moving the excitation beam relative to the wheel such as by
moving the beam or the rotating wheel in a translational manner,
e.g. in an oscillating translational manner. Other movements are
included within the scope of the invention, e.g. two movements
which are orthogonal to each other or at any suitable angle. Hence
the two movements can both be translational movements in two
orthogonal directions applied simultaneously. Both movements can
also be rotating motions such as a main rotation of a wavelength
conversion element such as a color wheel about a central axis and a
rotational processing of the axis of rotation to produce cycloidal,
such as trochoidal, hypocycloidal, epicycloidal, hypotrochoidal,
epitrochoidal motions. In accordance with embodiments of the
present invention and depending on the power density and the
characteristics of the wavelength conversion material, the
rotational and orbiting movement can be modulated to maximize the
lifetime of the elements of wavelength conversion material. Both
movements can be modulated if the laser-wavelength conversion
material combination is a single color light source used for f.i.
multiple light valve systems. For single light valve systems, the
orbiting itself can be modulated while the rotation is determined
by the frequency of the incoming video signal.
[0037] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
the wavelength conversion element can be immersed in a liquid. A
circulating means or pump can be provided for circulating or
pumping the liquid to cool the wavelength conversion element. The
wavelength conversion element or wheel can have fins for rotation
by the pumped liquid, e.g. like a Peltier wheel. Gears can be
provided for converting the rotation of the wavelength conversion
element into relative motion between the excitation light source
and the wavelength conversion element so that said region is
exposed to the excitation light at different times and in a
progressive relative movement that scans across a two-dimensional
surface of the wavelength conversion element.
[0038] Embodiments of the present invention also provide an
illumination device comprising a light source for generating an
excitation light and a wavelength conversion element, said
wavelength conversion element comprising: a region containing a
wavelength conversion material capable of absorbing the excitation
light of said light source and emitting light having wavelengths
different from that of the excitation light. The wavelength
conversion element is immersed in and cooled by a liquid. An
enclosure can be provided to hold the liquid and the wavelength
conversion element as well as other items such as gears, lenses
nozzles etc. Also in this embodiment the wavelength conversion
element and the excitation light source can be moveable relative to
each other so that said region is exposed to the excitation light
at different times and in a progressive relative movement that
scans across a two-dimensional surface of the wavelength conversion
element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the drawings, wherein:
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a light source unit comprising a fluorescent
wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates where the light impinges on a fluorescent
wheel as seen within the plane of a wheel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates where the light impinges on a fluorescent
wheel as seen within the plane of a wheel according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates where the light impinges on moving wheel
with the frequency of the back and forth translational movement
smaller than the frequency of the rotational movement according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates how the temperature evolves in a phosphor
element at a certain position on a wheel with only a rotational
movement versus a wheel with an orbiting movement according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a fluorescent wheel comprising different
sectors with phosphors of different colors according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIGS. 7 to 12 show a further embodiment in which the
wavelength conversion element is immersed in a liquid and movement
of the liquid is used to cool the wavelength conversion
element.
[0047] FIG. 7 shows the full assembly from the right side.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows the full assembly from the left side.
[0049] FIG. 9 shows a phosphor wheel, input lens, output lens,
orbiting gear, and in/out liquid pump nozzles according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0050] FIG. 10 shows a detail of a phosphor wheel and propeller
fins and orbiting gear.
[0051] FIG. 11 shows a detail of the liquid enclosure.
[0052] FIG. 12 shows a detail of the orbiting gear according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Corresponding reference
characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates exemplary
embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification
is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in
any manner.
DEFINITIONS
[0053] The term "wavelength conversion material" as used herein
relates to photoluminescence materials. The term
"photoluminescence" as used herein relates to materials which
encompass both fluorescence and/or phosphorescence materials, for
instance phosphors and quantum dots are within the scope of this
definition. The term "phosphor" as used herein relates to any
material which is able to emit light by fluorescence,
phosphorescence or more generally by photoluminescence. Thus in the
following reference to photoluminescent wheel includes individual
and separate reference to phosphorescent or fluorescent wheel just
as reference to photoluminescent material includes individual and
separate reference to phosphorescent or fluorescent material.
[0054] Reference to a "region" of photoluminescent material refers
to an area which comprises such material area covered by such a
material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0055] The present invention will be described with respect to
particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but
the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The
drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the
drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and
not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. Where the term
"comprising" is used in the present description and claims, it does
not exclude other elements or steps. Where an indefinite or
definite article is used when referring to a singular noun e.g. "a"
or "an", "the", this includes a plural of that noun unless
something else is specifically stated.
[0056] The term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be
interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it
does not exclude other elements or steps. Thus, the scope of the
expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be
limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means
that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant
components of the device are A and B.
[0057] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in
the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing
between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a
sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the
terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances
and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are
capable of operation in other sequences than described or
illustrated herein.
[0058] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in
the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes
and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be
understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under
appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention
described herein are capable of operation in other orientations
than described or illustrated herein.
[0059] In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like
features; and, a reference numeral appearing in more than one
figure refers to the same element. The drawings and the following
detailed descriptions show an illumination device whereby the power
density distribution of the high density laser light is spread as a
result of moving the laser light across the color wheel over a part
or all of its surface but the present invention is not limited to
rotation nor to phosphor.
[0060] A light source unit 1, according to an embodiment of the
present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, can comprise a
photoluminescent wheel 2, which can emit light towards other
optical components such as a light integrating unit 18 (e.g. a
light guide or rod made of an optical material, or a fly-eye
integrator) by receiving excitation light from an excitation light
source 4, and wherein a photoluminescent wheel 2 is rotated by a
first actuator, for instance a wheel motor 5, which is attached to
a central portion of a disk-shaped transparent base material 6. The
light coming out of the integrating unit can be used to illuminate
a light valve, such a DLP.TM. chip, LCOS or a Liquid Crystal Panel.
In implementations with a single light valve, preferably the image
generation by the light valve is synchronized with the motion of
the color wheel so that one color component such as a green
component is displayed on a light valve, when the green section of
the color wheel is in front of the incoming light. The same is true
for the red, blue and other primary colors. The colors are thus
displayed sequentially at a sufficiently high rate that the
observer sees a composite "full color" image. In some embodiments a
layer comprising a phosphor layer can be deposited over the entire
disk and multiple light sources are combined to create a full color
image.
[0061] The light sources may be solid state light sources such as
LED's, OLED's or laser diodes.
[0062] In embodiments of the present invention the phosphor layer
preferably comprises rare earth materials more specifically, for
instance to enable green light, dopant rare earth materials such as
Eu2+ or Ce3+ can be used. The rear earth materials preferably are
fastened using a suitable epoxy type binder material. However
because epoxy type binder materials are used, delamination due to
high temperatures may be another concern. Advantageously, the
present invention provides a device and method to manage these
temperatures resulting in a better fasting of the rare earth
materials.
[0063] In some embodiments, the photoluminescent wheel 2 can
comprise a central portion of a disk-shaped transparent base
material 6 for instance fused silica glass, and a phosphor layer 7.
The phosphor layer 7 is optionally disposed on a dichroic layer 10.
The dichroic layer 10 can comprise a dichroic coating from any of
various suppliers, such as for instance from Oerlikon.
[0064] As will be discussed further in other embodiments the wheel
2 may comprise sectors with different phosphor layers (e.g. layers
7 and 9). The dichroic layer 10, which transmits the excitation
light emitted by excitation light source 4 but reflects light of
other wavelength bands, can be formed through depositing a coating
on a surface of the transparent base material 6 which lies on the
side where the phosphor layers 7 (and 9) are disposed. An
antireflection coating layer 11 preferably may be formed through
deposition of a coating on a surface of the transparent base
material 6 which lies on an opposite side to the side where the
phosphor layers 7 are disposed. In addition, the shaft 17 of motor
5 may extend through a central portion of the photoluminescent
wheel 2. The two can be fastened together in any practical way
known in the art.
[0065] In some embodiments, the angular position of the wheel 2
relative to the shaft 17 may be determined based on the readings of
an optical sensor that detects a reference position on the
disk-shaped transparent base material 6.
[0066] While the photoluminescent wheel 2 rotates, the excitation
light impinges on different points on the fluorescent wheel 2. The
locus of these points as seen within the plane of the wheel 2 is a
ring whose width is determined by the dimension of the spot of
light created by the excitation light (see dashed region of FIG.
2).
[0067] The rotation of the fluorescent wheel will limit the maximum
temperature reached by the phosphor through absorption of
excitation light. This will postpone deterioration of the phosphor
material. Nevertheless, the same ring is repeatedly and constantly
being irradiated by the excitation light, which at high(er)
intensity will inexorably lead to a deterioration of the phosphor
material. By degradation is meant both a reversible shift of the
phosphor material properties with temperature and irreversible
changes in these properties (for instance, the wavelength emitted
by the phosphor material may shift and/or the efficiency with which
a desired wavelength is emitted when the phosphor is excited by the
excitation light may drop). To further postpone a loss in
performance through degradation/deterioration of the phosphor
material, one may e.g. increase the radius of the fluorescent wheel
2. By keeping the ring region where the excitation light strikes
the wheel close to the border of the wheel, the total time that an
element of the region is submitted to the action of the excitation
light will decrease (in other words one has increased the total
area of phosphor material that will be excited by the excitation
light and will receive a given amount of energy over a given length
of time). This may not be practical for reasons like compactness
(limited space available for the wheel and driving motor) or
reliability (stress in the disk will increase with increasing
radius).
[0068] In other embodiments, the size of the spot describing the
ring can be increased by for instance using a lens between an
excitation light and fluorescent wheel in order to spread the light
over a greater area and by so doing decreasing the power absorbed
per unit area of phosphor material struck by the excitation light.
However in a projection system the etendue can be limited by the
size of the light valve and optical components, and the etendue of
the light source has to be smaller in order to effectively use the
light emitted from the phosphor. And since the emission angle of
the phosphor is 180 degrees, the area has to be quite small.
[0069] Some embodiments of the present invention can spread the
energy absorbed over the lifetime of the wheel by the phosphor
material over a larger locus of points on the fluorescent wheel 2
(and in particular on the phosphor 7) struck by excitation light by
adding a further movement such as a lateral movement or additional
rotational movement of the fluorescent wheel. The translational
movement can be executed in a plane parallel to the plane of the
wheel.
[0070] In the examples of embodiments discussed below, the
direction D of the translation is parallel to the line joining the
center of the photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent
wheel 2 and the center of the region of the wheel where the
excitation light strikes the wheel (e.g. the points 19 and 20 on
FIG. 1).
[0071] A second actuator 16 can be used to translationally move the
photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent wheel 2 in a
direction parallel to the plane of the wheel (e.g. as represented
on FIG. 1 along direction D).
[0072] The second actuator may e.g. comprise a second electrical
motor rotating a lead screw (or translation screw) 15 parallel to
the direction 0, a lead nut fastened to the wheel support (12, 13)
will be driven along the threads of the lead screw. The lead nut
being fastened to the photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or
phosphorescent wheel support, any displacement of the lead nut will
be accompanied by a displacement of the wheel support and the
fluorescent wheel parallel to the lead screw. The wheel support
(12, 13) is guided by linear guides/shaft (14a, 14b). Instead of a
motor, lead screw and lead nut; the translation movement may be
enabled by an integrated linear actuator, more specifically a
linear actuator made by LINAK.TM..
[0073] In some embodiments, the second actuator may also comprise a
crank shaft and/or rod system. The rotary motion of the second
electrical motor is converted into a translation motion according
to well known principles. In that case element 15 is replaced by a
rod linked to a crankshaft or wheel (not shown) through a
connecting rod (not shown). The crank shaft or wheel can then be
driven by an electrical motor.
[0074] The motions imparted to the fluorescent wheel by the first
and second actuators may be combined in different ways. For example
a photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent wheel can be
used in transmission where the excitation light passes through a
base material 6. In other embodiments the photoluminescent e.g.
fluorescent or phosphorescent material is deposited on a reflecting
wheel (e.g. polished metal). In that case, the source of excitation
light and the light integrating unit 18 will be on the same side of
the wheel, the excitation light will impinge directly on the
photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent material and
the fraction of excitation light that did not interact with the
phosphor material will be reflected by the polished metal and be
allowed to interact with the photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or
phosphorescent material on its way out. At the same time, the
photoluminescent, e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent light, emitted
by the wavelength conversion material in the direction opposite the
input of the light integrating unit 18 will be reflected by the
polished metal and be reflected in the general direction of the
input of the light integrating unit, thereby contributing to
increase the efficiency of the light source unit 1.
[0075] According to an embodiment of the present invention, when
deterioration of the phosphor material in the region that has been
excited by the excitation light is detected or expected, the region
of the photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent wheel
where the excitation light will impinge may be varied by displacing
the wheel along the direction D. For instance, if the second
actuator makes use of a stepper motor and a lead screw, a known
number of steps will result in a known lateral displacement of the
wheel (along direction D) and the laser spot will move along a
"fresh" region FR of the wavelength conversion material where its
properties have not yet changed as in region R. To reach the fresh
region and leave the region R where the wavelength conversion
material is degraded, the amplitude of the translation T is at
least as large as the width W of the region R. As illustrated in
FIG. 3 the region FR has a smaller average radius than a region
R.
[0076] In another embodiment according to the present invention the
degradation of the properties of the wavelength conversion material
can be postponed by regularly shifting the position of the region
upon which the excitation light impinges. This can be done for
instance by moving the wheel back and forth in discrete steps along
direction D in order for the laser spot to scan different regions
of the wheel. The excitation light can scan a given region Ri (i=1,
2, . . . ) for a given time Ti or for a given number of rotations
of the wheel before moving to the next region. If only two such
regions R are considered, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the excitation
light will scan the outer ring R for at least one turn, the
rotation wheel will then be translated until the excitation light
impinges on the inner ring FR. The excitation light preferably will
scan the inner ring FR for at least one turn before the wheel is
translated back to its original position where the excitation light
will scan the outer ring and so forth. In other embodiments of the
present invention switching is possible between the different
regions Ri at regular time intervals that are much shorter then the
lifetime of the phosphor material to deteriorate the different
regions uniformly. Alternatively the different regions could be
used as a reserve tank, and moving to the next region is only
decided if the current region has reached the end of its
lifetime.
[0077] According to another embodiment of the present invention the
lateral displacement may be continuous: if the frequency of the
back and forth translation of the wheel is smaller than the
frequency at which the wheel rotates, the locus of the points where
the excitation light will impinge on the fluorescent wheel can
follow a spiraling-in and spiraling out pattern. This is
illustrated in FIG. 4 where for the sake of clarity only the center
of the spot (e.g. the projection of point 19 onto the wavelength
conversion region) has been represented.
[0078] Although a spiral has been disclosed more complex movements
are included within the scope of the present invention. Heat
generated by the excitation beam in the photoluminescent material
can spread laterally. Thus it can be of advantage if the excitation
light beam does not return to a spot adjacent to a currently
irradiated spot in a short time. Thus the relative motion between
the wavelength conversion element and the excitation light beam can
be in a series of steps like a Hilbert walk or Peano curve and
generally the motion can be any suitable space filling curve. The
movements can also be rotating motions such as a main rotation of a
wavelength conversion element such as a color wheel about a central
axis and a rotational processing of the axis of rotation to produce
cycloidal, such as trochoidal, hypocycloidal, epicycloidal,
hypotrochoidal, epitrochoidal motions.
[0079] Advantageously, this embodiment enables to limit the local
temperature increase. In order to further limit the local
temperature increase, the period of the lateral movement is chosen
such that it is longer than the period of rotation of the wheel and
preferably larger then 5 times the thermal time constant of an
element of phosphor on the wheel 2. Preferably the translation
period also is sufficiently short to make sure that the amount of
translation during one period is large enough to avoid overlap with
the trajectory of the previous rotation.
[0080] In FIG. 5 the dotted line indicates how the temperature
evolves in a phosphor element at a certain position on the wheel
with a rotational movement only. As soon as the laser hits the
phosphor temperature rises immediately. Because of the poor thermal
conductivity it cools down very slowly and is not able to cool down
to ambient temperature before the rotation period is completed. In
regime, the phosphor element reaches a maximum temperature Tmax1.
If the rotational movement is combined with a lateral movement,
which period is selected such that the phosphor is able to cool
down completely before the laser hits the same position, the
maximum temperature is reduced to Tmax2. This is indicated by the
solid line in FIG. 5. Note: for reasons of simplicity the
translation period is presumed to be an even multiple of the
rotation period such that the laser returns to exactly the same
position after the translation period. This is not a requirement
and in fact it would be preferred to have a more irregular
relationship to avoid that the positions of the orbits and the
positions of the crossovers between spiraling in and out change
over time. In another embodiment the local temperature increase can
also be limited by further integrating a cooling unit in the light
unit 1. An example of a cooling unit can be a nozzle which blows
cold air on the area where a local temperature increase occurs.
[0081] In other embodiments, an illumination device can comprise a
photoluminescent wheel comprising different sectors with different
phosphors. Preferably, at least one sector of the different sectors
may additional be translucent for the excitation light. When the
fluorescent wheel comprises different sectors with phosphors of
different colors as figured on FIG. 6, one must take precautions to
guarantee that the color of the light emitted by the light source
unit 1 will correspond to or be in synch or be enabled to be
synchronized with the data with which the light valve is programmed
at the time the light of said color impinges on the light
valve.
[0082] Indeed, due to the finite size of the spot or footprint that
the excitation light leaves on the wavelength conversion material
such as phosphor, synchronization is affected by the position of
said spot or footprint along a radius of the wheel. This can be
readily seen on FIG. 6 that compares the relative position of the
spot with respect to the frontier between two phosphor regions with
different colors. One sees that for the same angular position of
the wheel, the spot will cross at a given instant in time that
border or not depending on its position along a radius of the
wheel.
[0083] While the center of the spots at position P1 and P2 have the
same angular coordinate on the wheel, the spot at position P2
positioned closer to the center of the wheel already overlaps the
red phosphor 7R. In position P2 both green light from phosphor
region 7G and red light from phosphor region 7R is entering the
integrator 18 and both colors illuminate the DLP at the same time.
To mitigate this problem, (1) one may either limit the ratio
between the size of the spot and the radius of the wheel or (2) one
may add a feedback loop that will regulate the synchronization with
the driving of the light valve.
[0084] A typical spot size required to illuminate a 0.9 inch
DLP.TM. chip (the size of the micromirror array) will be 3 mm by
1.5 mm. With a wheel 2 with a diameter of 100 mm, one will be able
to scan the wheel from its rim to a radius of 25 mm without having
to suffer too much from the synchronization problem. In other words
by limiting the amplitude of the translation T to a fraction of the
radius of the wheel 2, one will mitigate the synch problem that
might arise.
[0085] In yet another embodiment a reserve can be further
integrated in the light source unit 1. Preferably the reserve may
comprise photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent
material such as phosphorous material and is mounted in a position
on the wheel or in the vicinity of the wheel 2. The reserve can be
left unused in normal operation but can be used when other
photoluminescent e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent elements on the
wheel have reached the end of their lifetime. The reserve can be a
ring of material for instance placed in one position of the wheel,
e.g. an outer ring. The end of the lifetime of a photoluminescent
e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent element on the wheel 2 can
preferably be determined by an intensity sensor, for instance which
detects when the intensity emitted by the photoluminescent e.g.
fluorescent or phosphorescent element drops below a certain
value.
[0086] To deliver high quality images it is important that short
term fluctuations of the brightness are avoided. Further if a color
wheel with different phosphor materials is used for the different
primary colors or if different light sources are used for the
different colors or even when several color wheels with different
phosphor materials are used for different colors, whereby each
color wheel comprises a light source, it is important that the
white point balance is maintained even if the phosphors of
different colors deteriorate differently over time, showing
differential aging.
[0087] It is therefore preferred to combine the above embodiments
with a closed loop feedback system. To achieve this, the output of
a sensor for the white point, or of sensors of primary colors is
compared with a reference value or set point and the intensity of a
excitation light source such as a laser is altered in order to
restore the white point. The sensors may measure the intensity of
the light for each primary color. The power of the excitation light
source is increased in those sectors where the light output from
the wavelength conversion material is most degraded. Alternatively
if the excitation light source has reached its maximum power for
the production of a certain color, the power at the other colors
can be reduced to maintain the desired white balance.
[0088] In some embodiments, an intensity sensor can be integrated
with the light source or further downstream in the projector to
detect the intensity.
[0089] Further, the power of the excitation light source 4 can be
modulated to compensate for short term fluctuations and keep the
light output constant at the desired level.
[0090] In a further embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, which can
be used with any of the previous embodiments mentioned, in order to
cool the illuminated wavelength conversion element such as a color
wheel e.g. with phosphor layer, more efficiently, a better thermal
interfacing to the actual wavelength conversion element such as a
color wheel, e.g. with phosphor is provided. This is executed in a
way that the wavelength conversion element such as a color wheel,
e.g. with phosphor allows the highest light energy concentration
from the excitation light with an "as small as possible light-spot"
for the pumping and the output light capturing.
[0091] In this embodiment in order to increase the efficiency of
the heat transfer, the wavelength conversion element 21 such as a
color wheel, e.g. with phosphor is submerged in a liquid medium 22
in an enclosure 24 that can form a closed cavity. The liquid medium
22 preferably flows, e.g. is pumped over the surface of the
wavelength conversion element 21 such as a color wheel, e.g. with
phosphor and cooled in an efficient way.
[0092] Such a liquid medium 22 can be a neutral silicone solution,
for example with low (pumpable) viscosity and a fixed refractive
index. Liquid materials should preferably self-de-aerate. If air
bubbles become entrapped in the fluid, the liquid should
self-de-aerate so that no pockets of air are trapped between
mechanical or optical parts. Accelerated de-aeration can be
obtained by vacuum de-aerating using a vacuum pump such as to
provide a vacuum pressure of approximately 635 mm of Hg (25 inches
of Hg), or greater. The presence of bubble formation can be avoided
by increasing vacuum slowly to avoid rapid foaming.
[0093] Suitable liquid materials should be optically transparent,
inert with preferably no intrinsic shelf life limitations and
compatible with most optical glasses, and semiconductors, for
example. Such liquids should have a high purity composition with
low ionics (e.g. ionics K, Na, P, Ag, Cu, Sn<10 ppm, each) to
ensure no degradation of sensitive semiconductors and metals.
Service temperature range should be for example between -40.degree.
C. and +150.degree. C., hence requiring a boiling point above these
values. The refractive index should allow index matching to
plastic, glass, semiconductor materials. The liquids should be low
viscosity fluids that allow pumping in circulation. Liquid
materials should be non-toxic, optically clear with efficient
optical transmission for wavelengths used in projectors, e.g. in
the visible range, have high surface tension to form non-migrating
in thin-films, and have low volatility to avoid re-condensation.
Optical transmission should be good i.e. close to 100% such as
>90%, >95% or >99% transmission in the range 200 to 1000
nm, e.g. above 200 nm and less than 800 nm and an index of
refraction in the range 1.2-1.7, e.g. 1.3 close to that of most
optical grade glasses.
[0094] Liquid materials that can be considered suitable are those
from Santolubes such as Santolight materials whose properties are
shown in Table 1 below and described in:
http://www.santolubes.com/resources/tds-msds/TDS-SANTOLIGHT-SL-5262.pdf:
TABLE-US-00001 TYPICAL PHYSICAL AND PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES Property
(at 25.degree. C. unless noted) Test Method Typical Value
Mechanical Properties Viscosity ASTM D 1084 650 cP Specific Gravity
ASTM D 1217 1.18 Thermal Properties Glass Transition TMA/DSC
-30.degree. C. (Estimate) Pour Point ASTM D 97 -10.degree. C.
Thermal Expansion ASTM D 1903 5.3 .times. 10.sup.-4 by Volume
cc/cc/.degree. C. Thermal Conductivity ASTM C 177 0.13 Watt/
(meter-.degree. C.) Evaporation Rate ASTM D 972 0.1%, est. (24 hrs,
100.degree. C.) TGA Take-off, 1% mass loss TGA 200.degree. C., est.
Electro-optical Properties Appearance Visual Crystal clear, yellow
tint Ionics (K, Na, P, Ag, Cu, Sn) ICP <10 ppm, each, est.
Volume Resistivity ASTM D 257 >10.sup.15 ohm-cm, est. Refractive
Index, 589 nm ASTM D 1218 1.62 Refractive Index vs. ASTM D 1218
-4.2 .times. 10.sup.-4/.degree. C. Temp., 589 nm Refractive Index
vs. Prism coupler (See chart) Wavelength Optical Absorption
Spectrophotometer (See chart) Particle Contamination MIL-STD-1246C
Level 25, est.
[0095] Also the transparent inert cooling fluids from 3M (e.g.
Novec and Fluoroinert), preferably with boiling point >130
degrees C. can be useful, see Table 2 taken from the document
mentioned below:
TABLE-US-00002 3M .TM. Novec .TM. Engineered Fluids Novec Novec
Novec Novec Novec Novec Unit 7000 7100 7200 7300 7500 7600 Boiling
Point .degree. C. 34 61 76 98 128 131 Pour Point .degree. C. -122
-135 -138 -38 -100 -98 Molecular Weight g/mol 200 250 264 350 414
346 Critical Temperature .degree. C. 165 195 210 243 261 260
Critical Pressure MPa 2.48 2.23 2.01 1.88 1.55 1.67 Vapor Pressure
kPa 65 27 16 5.9 2.1 0.96 Heat of Vaporization kJ/kg 142 112 119
102 89 116 Liquid Density kg/m.sup.3 1400 1510 1420 1660 1614 1540
Coefficient of Expansion K.sup.-1 0.0022 0.0018 0.0016 0.0013
0.0013 0.0011 Kinematic Viscosity cSt 0.32 0.38 0.41 0.71 0.77 1.1
Absolute Viscosity cP 0.45 0.58 0.58 1.18 1.24 1.65 Specific Heat
J/kg-K 1300 1183 1220 1140 1128 1319 Thermal Conductivity W/m-K
0.075 0.069 0.068 0.063 0.065 0.071 Surface Tension mN/m 12.4 13.6
13.6 15.0 16.2 17.7 Solubility of Water in Fluid ppm by weight -60
95 92 67 45 410 Solubility of Fluid in Water ppm by weight <50
12 <20 <1 <3 <10 Dielectric Strength, 0.1'' gap kV -40
-40 -40 -40 -40 -40 Dielectric Constant @ 1 kHz -- 7.4 7.4 7.3 6.1
5.8 6.4 Volume Resistivity Ohm-cm 10.sup.8 10.sup.8 10.sup.8
10.sup.11 10.sup.8 10.sup.10 Global Warming Potential GWP 420 297
59 210 100 700 For test methods and variability, contact 3M
Technical Service
TABLE-US-00003 3M .TM. Fluorinert .TM. Electronic Liquids Unit
FC-3284 FC-72 FC-84 FC-770 FC-3283 FC-40 FC-43 Boiling Point
.degree. C. 50 56 80 95 128 155 174 Pour Point .degree. C. -73 -90
-95 -127 -50 -57 -50 Molecular Weight g/mol 299 338 388 399 521 650
670 Critical Temperature .degree. C. 161 176 202 238 235 270 294
Critical Pressure MPa 1.94 1.83 1.75 2.47 1.22 1.18 1.13 Vapor
Pressure kPa 35 30 11 6.6 1.4 0.43 0.19 Heat of Vaporization kJ/kg
105 88 90 86 78 68 70 Liquid Density kg/m.sup.3 1710 1680 1730 1793
1820 1850 1860 Coefficient of Expansion K.sup.-1 0.0016 0.0016
0.0015 0.0015 0.0014 0.0012 0.0012 Kinematic Viscosity cSt 0.42
0.38 0.53 0.79 0.75 1.8 2.5 Absolute Viscosity cP 0.71 0.64 0.91
1.4 1.4 3.4 4.7 Specific Heat J/kg-K 1100 1100 1100 1038 1100 1100
1100 Thermal Conductivity W/m-K 0.062 0.057 0.060 0.063 0.066 0.065
0.065 Surface Tension mN/m 13 10 12 15 15 16 16 Solubility of Water
in Fluid ppm by weight 14 10 11 14 7 <7 7 Solubility of Fluid in
Water ppm by weight <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5
Dielectric Strength, 0.1'' gap kV >40 >40 >40 >40
>40 >40 >40 Dielectric Constant @ 1 kHz -- 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.9
1.9 1.9 1.9 Volume Resistivity Ohm-cm 10.sup.15 10.sup.15 10.sup.15
10.sup.15 10.sup.15 10.sup.15 10.sup.15
[0096] Table 2 is taken from:
[0097]
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=sssss72sFWtTz8Uuo-
Y9zpY_s FWuRFWtsFWtsFWtsFssssss--&fn=bro_heattrans.pdf.
[0098] Suitable liquid materials may also be found among those
liquids researched for immersion lithography as these are able to
withstand laser light for long periods. Lower refractive index
liquids compared to those used for lithography may be preferred. In
addition to water, second generation (GEN2) and third generation
(GEN3) lithographic immersion fluids can be considered such as
described, for example in "High Index Immersion Lithography With
Second Generation Immersion Fluids To Enable Numerical Apertures of
1.55 For Cost Effective 32 nm Half Pitches". R. H. French, V.
Liberman, H. V. Tran, J. Feldman, D. J. Adelman, R. C. Wheland, W.
Qiul, S. J. McLainl, O. Nagao, M. Kaku, M. Mocella, M. K. Yang, M.
F. Lemon, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6520 65201O-3. The refractive index of
such materials used for photolithography can be well tuned to the
wavelength conversion element 21 such as phosphor as the relevant
wavelength range is 200 to 800 nm at which wavelengths the
refractive index is typically lower and in the range 1.2 to 1.7,
typically 1.3 to 1.6.
[0099] Preferably cooling fluids should be selected for their high
or higher thermal conductivity to enhance heat spreading as well as
their radiation durability.
[0100] The wavelength conversion material such as phosphor is fixed
on the surface of a transparent wheel 21. The wheel 21 is
preferably suspended on the gear 30 with gear elements 26 which
allow rotation of the wheel and also more complex motions. In an
embodiment the immersion liquid is also used to drive the wheel.
For example, the wheel preferably also has fins 28. These can be
mounted at its outer rim for example. The fins 28 are pushed by a
pumped liquid stream as in a Peltier wheel arrangement. Flow guides
36 (36a, 36b) and 37 (37a, 37b) can be provided on either side of
the wheel to direct pumped liquid to the laser spot position 38.
Accordingly, the system has a means for causing the liquid to flow
such as a pump (not shown) for the liquid. Further a reservoir can
be provided for the liquid as well as an inlet nozzles 32, and an
outlet nozzle 34. A loop of conduit or tubing can be provided to
return the liquid to the inlet nozzle 32. In this way the wheel 21
is propelled into a rotation. A plurality of nozzles can be used to
produce different flows, e.g. to the fins 28 and/or to the laser
spot position 38. Other means of rotation can be used such as an
electric motor and the cooling flow can be regulated separately
from the rotational motion. The rotational movement (however it is
generated) preferably engages the gear 30 which is setup to move
the wheel in an orbital way. The gear 30 includes elements 26a and
26b such as a gear cog 26a and an endless geared track 26b which
move the centre of rotation in a linear reciprocal motion at the
same time as the rotation of the wheel. The rotating motions can be
a main rotation of a wavelength conversion element such as a color
wheel about a central axis and a rotational processing of the axis
of rotation to produce cycloidal, such as trochoidal,
hypocycloidal, epicycloidal, hypotrochoidal, epitrochoidal motions.
The gear is hence a means for a rotational processing of the axis
of rotation to produce cycloidal, such as trochoidal,
hypocycloidal, epicycloidal, hypotrochoidal, epitrochoidal
motions.
[0101] The latter motion or motions allow(s) for spreading the
energy injected into the pumping spot over a larger surface of the
wheel. At the same time the surface is also cooled by the liquid
stream, which is circulating in the enclosure 24. Elements like the
wheel, lenses 40 and the gear 30 can be mounted in the closed
cavity.
[0102] Lenses 40 or other optical devices can be placed at both
sides of the wheel, which take care that the wavelength conversion
pumping light focus and the output light capturing are both in a
fixed position.
[0103] The liquid is pumped around the loop of conduit or tubing
and can be cooled by conventional cooling provisions like radiator
heat-exchangers supported by a chilled system like thermo-electric
cooling elements.
[0104] It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular features of the means and/or the process steps of
the methods described as such means and methods may vary. It is
also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for
purposes of describing particular embodiments only, and is not
intended to be limiting. It is also to be understood that plural
forms include singular and/or plural referents unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise. It is moreover to be understood that,
in case parameter ranges are given which are delimited by numeric
values, the ranges are deemed to include these limitation
values.
* * * * *
References